Ford Free of Style?
The suits must have finally tired of watching paying customers bypass the Blue Oval store on their way to make a down payment on a Chrysler Pacifica, because it didn’t take long for Ford to jump onboard the crossover train. It may be a few years late to the party but Ford’s entrant is here nonetheless. The Freestyle is the vehicle that the bean counters hope will claim a piece of the ever-expanding crossover pie for the house that Henry built. But to do that it will have to offer generous doses of comfort, value, safety and drivability. A bit of style wouldn’t hurt either. Read more…
Another Alternative For The “Ain’t Gonna Drive A Minivan” Club
They’re out there. They’re all around us. They are the people who will not drive a minivan simply because—it’s a minivan. Focus a bright light on them in a dark room and they’ll squirm, but admit they like the higher seating, the ample room for kids and cargo, and the comfortable ride. And they will also let you know, in no uncertain terms, they’d rather walk than arrive in the most un-cool of vehicles. It is because of people like this, and some very successful marketing, that SUVs have replaced the minivan as America’s portable people hauler of choice. Yes, you heard right. The traditional minivan segment is no longer growing by leaps and bounds. This is particularly true of the domestic vans, which face ever-stronger competition from the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Despite a slight increase in sales so far this year, minivan sales peaked in 2000. So the segment isn’t dead by any means, but at best, future sales graphs will likely resemble a plateau, at worst, the backside of Mt. Everest. Read more…
I’ve always liked driving Acuras. There’s something about the way they mix precision, comfort and value that makes them a perfect compromise — a step above ordinary cars, but not so expensive and outlandish as to make you feel guilty.
Of course, some people say Acuras are nothing but overpriced Hondas. I say that’s rubbish. It’s like calling a Porsche an overpriced Volkswagen or a Mercedes an overpriced taxicab with leather seats. Anybody who’s driven the two knows there’s a big difference.
Case in point: the Acura MDX. Read more…
When it comes to midsize luxury SUVs, it seems imports get all the glory. Read more…
In the automotive schoolyard, Kia is the kid who has the lowliest reputation, the one who is the butt of jokes, isn’t too popular, wears worn-out clothes, and occasionally gets roughed up by bullies simply because it hasn’t been aggressive enough to scare the competition. Read more…
Mary Poppins would have no need for a car — after all, why drive when you have a flying umbrella — but chances are she’d be awfully tempted by the Honda Pilot. Read more…
